paradise in plain sight

February 18th, 2011

It’s been a week since I headed up the highway for my appointment with the Pacific at last Saturday’s Asilomar Plunge retreat. When I load up my flimsy suitcase; my papers, pens, electric plugs and machinery; my box of books; my well-traveled doubts and fears; when I load up the heavy cargo I say to myself: I’m too old for this.

And then I meet a room of half-made friends and kind strangers, none of us knowing quite how every twist and turn and bend has led us there, and we sit together in open silence and close confidence, setting aside the load, the questions, the judgments that distract and divide; when I end up emptied, with nothing more to carry home I say to myself: There is no other way to live.

I’ll never know the good, if any, that comes. What comes is not always good – not for everyone, every time. But for a shining moment, before the next wave arrives, I can leave a footprint. We all leave footprints.

In that spirit, here’s a direction for you to follow. There’s a giveaway of Hand Wash Cold this weekend at Angela DiGiovanni’s blog. I hope you’ll visit and take the gift that’s been left behind.

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hi karen…it’s tamara. i attended the retreat last weekend with my mother, eldra. that was a beautiful weekend. good did come for me and my mother! asilomar was incredibly peaceful and such a positive space. your words throughout the day last saturday…attention, breath, faith. let your practice be your life. our meditative walk (wow – did i really do that?!). the yoga before lunch. it’s all been on my mind this past week. thank you so much for all that the day offered. it was incredible and i will never forget the feeling of community in that room.(my daughter and i started meditation classes this week!)

Hi, Karen. I attended your retreat and am personally so thankful you are not too old for this! The kindness from you and everyone in the room was such a beautiful gift. That shining moment in time will stay with me forever.